The 10th edition of Gaulitana: A Festival of Music, which runs in Gozo until April 24, opens tomorrow with a semi-staged production of My Fair Lady at Palazzo Palina (Ta’ Ċenċ Hotel) marking 60 years since its first Broadway performance.
Hailed by critics and audiences for its heart and its wit, My Fair Lady is a beautiful musical about transformation, patronage, gender politics and class, based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion.
The ending is left ambiguous, yet it is beloved for being both one of the cleverest and one of the most romantic plays of all time.
This week’s programme of events
(All activities start at 8pm)
Tomorrow: My Fair Lady
Musical by Frederick Loewe
Gaulitanus Choir & soloists
Gaulitana Ensemble
Terry Shaw, director
Colin Attard, conductor (Malta/UK)
Palazzo Palina, Ta Ċenċ Hotel, Sannat
Monday: Ethereal Sounds
Tommaso Benciolini, flute
Claudio Bonfiglio, piano (Italy)
Ministry for Gozo Hall, Victoria
Tommaso Benciolini returns to Gaulitana, this time featuring a solo recital presenting varied works from Schubert to Messiaen.
Tuesday: Russian Songs
Duo Luoghi Immaginari, soprano/piano (Russia/Italy)Ministry for Gozo Hall, Victoria
Wednesday: Lasciati Amar
Duo Luoghi Immaginari, soprano/piano (Russia/Italy)Ministry for Gozo Hall, Victoria
Duo Luoghi Immaginari will present two concerts, one of Russian songs and the second featuring Italian songs. Russian songs will feature songs recorded by the duo and published by eminent Italian music magazine Amadeus. Lasciati Amar will revolve around works by Verdi, Tosti,Mascagni, Puccini and Leoncavalli.
Duo Luoghi Immaginari endeavour to combine well-known classics with other popular works in the lieder genre.
Thursday: Concluding a master
Miriam Gauci’s Vocal Masterclass
Ministry for Gozo Hall, Victoria
Miriam Gauci, who is honorary patron of Gaulitana, will hold a series of masterclasses for vocal studies between Monday and Wednesday.
At the end of these workshops, the students will feature in a concluding concert presenting various pieces they worked on. The singers will be accompanied by Sofia Narmania.FRIDAY: Pianistic Tour De Force
Giorgi Sirbilashvili, piano (Georgia)
Ministry for Gozo Hall, Victoria
Giorgi Sirbilashvili, an accomplished pianist trained in Germany, will present a concert featuring Beethoven, Schubert and Chopin, all acclaimed for the pianistic idiomatic writing. The concert will conclude with Liszt’s take on Paganini’s enigmatic La Campanella.
Saturday: Franco-Spanish Harmonies
Galdósstring Quartet (Spain)
St Francis Church, Victoria
The first weekend of Gaulitana closes off with the Galdos String Quartet, whose members have been part of some of the most renowned youth orchestras, including the European Union Youth Orchestra and Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. Their programme will include Debussy’s masterpiece in this genre, complemented by works by Turina and Arriaga, often referred to as the “Spanish Mozart”.
Concerts are free of charge. More information may be obtained by sending an e-mail to gaulitanafestival@gmail.com or online: www.gaulitanus.com/